Assorting belt



Dec. 1, 1942. BYERS 2,303,984

AS SORTING BELT File d Dec. 11, 1941 Patented Dec. 1, 1942 l UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE ASSORTING BELT 7 Robert Byers, Hancock, Md., assignor of onefourth to John S. Rice'and one-fourth to James W. Trew, both of Gettysburg, Pa.

Application December 11, 1941, Serial No. 422,589

7 Claims. (Cl. 209-84) This invention relates to an assorting belt, and has relation more particularly to a belt for assorting or grading fruit.

It is a particular object of the invention to provide a belt of this kind wherein the parts are constructed and assembled in a manner to substantially eliminate wear, and particularly such wear which would result in enlargement or distortion of the sorting openings. 1

It is also an object of the invention to provide a belt of this kind comprising a plurality of hingedly connected sections, each of said sections being of a width substantially equal to the major width of the belt, and which section constitutes a rigid unit.

The invention also has for an object to provide an assorting belt comprising a plurality of rigid units together with a pivot member associated with adjacent units, and with each of said adjacent units throughout its length. being in close contact with the pivot member.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an assorting belt including a plurality of rigid units, each of said units being of a width substantially equal to the major width of the belt, together with a pivot member associated with adjacent units, said adjacent units having coacting means whereby said adjacent units will not'move in one direction beyond alignment, but being free for relative swinging movement in the opposite direction to allow the belt to pass around suitably positioned supporting elements.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a belt of this kind comprising a plurality of rigid units of duplicate construction, and wherein the assembly of the units is such to allow for the ready application or removal of the unit as may be required for replacement, for lengthening or shortening the belt, or as may be otherwise required.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved assorting belt whereby certain important advantages are attained, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view, in side elevation, of an assorting belt constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view, partly in top plan and partly in section, of the belt as herein comprised;-

Figure 3 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 2, with the parts in a second position.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawing, A denotes a plurality of units of duplicate construction, the number of said units depending upon the length of belt desired. Each of the units A comprises the substantially parallel front and rear bars I and 2, each being of a length coextensive in length with the other and spaced apart by the interposed cross members 3 which extend in a direction lengthwise of the belt. these members I and 2, throughout its length, is arcuate in cross-section with its inbow face 4 outwardly disposed. This inbow face 4 is disposed 'on an arc in excess of and less than The arcuate inbow faces 4 of the bars I and 2 are so arranged and formed that when the upper edge of a bar I or 2 of one unit is in contact with an upper edge of a bar 2 or I of an adjacent unit. said units will be in alignment.

When the bars I and 2 of adjacent units are in close contact a pivot rod 5 is inserted through the parti-cylindrical opening afforded by the opposed in-bow faces 4. The faces 4 are on substantially the same radius as the periphery of the rod 5 so that said faces 4 throughout the entire length of the adjacent bars I and 2 will have close contact with the rod 5, and as said faces 4 in cross-section are in excess of 90 the applied rod 5 serves as a means for maintaining adjacent units A in hinged or pivotal assembly.

The rod 5 is of a length greater than the length of the unit A so that said rod-Will eXtend' a desired distance beyond opposite sides of the assembled units to allow the pivotal connection with said extended portions of the rods 5 of the spaced parallel links 6. These links 6 are provided with the properly positioned openings 1 through which the rod 5 is freely inserted. As is clearly illustrated in Figure 2, a pair of inner links and a pair of outer links are pivotally or hingedly connected with each extended portion of a rod! and the links 6 are maintained in desired spaced relation by a sleeve or collar 8 on each extended portion of a rod 5 between an inner link and an outer link 6. After a rod 5 has been applied the extremities thereof are upset or otherwise headed, as at 9, to maintain the Each of rod and the adjacent units A in desired assembly.

The member 3 may be secured to the bars I and 2 as desired, but I prefer that such connection be by brazing, as indicated at I0. To further maintain the desired assembly between adjacent units A, and particularly in a manner to eifectively withstand the load on the belt during a working operation, the associated bars I and 2 of adjacent units A are snugly surrounded by a ring member iI, said member being rigidly secured, as at I2, by brazing or otherwise to one of the bars, and herein disclosed as being secured to a rear bar 2. As is particularly illustrated in Figure 4, in the present embodiment of the invention each of the rings I I is initially of a split type so that it can be readily and conveniently applied in desired position. It is also to be particularly pointed out, and as illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawing, that each of the rings II ispositioned closely adjacent to a corner of the sorting or grading space I4 afforded between the bars I and 2 and the adjacent members 3 of the units A. By this location of the ring I I the same offers no hindrance or obstruction to the passage of the fruit through the grading opening.

-As is diagrammatically illustrated in Figure l, the completed belt is disposed around suitably positioned supporting elements I5 herein disclosed as sprocket-type wheels with which the links 6 operatively engage, and the belt is to be driven in any manner preferred, but more particularly by a suitably driven element I8 also operatively engaged with the links 6. It is also believed to be apparent that the units A may be readily applied or removed for shortening or lengthening the belt, or for the purposes of replacement, and it is to be more particularly noted that the belt is constructed in a manner whereby wear of the relatively movable parts is substantially eliminated with the resultant elimination of any enlargement or distortion of the sorting openings, whereby maximum emciency of the belt is assured at all times. It is also to be pointed out that the construction of the belt is such wherein the working stretch of the belt is held against sagging under load as a result of the coaction between adjacent units.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that an assorting belt constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated.

I claim:

1. An assorting belt comprising a plurality of substantially duplicate units, each of the units comprising front and rear bars, members rigidly connecting the bars of the unit at spaced points along said bars, said bars having their outer faces disposed on an arcuate inbow, each of said faces being of an arc of more than 90 but less than 180, the bars of one unit coacting with the bars of adjacent units to provide parti-cylindrical sleeves, and pivot rods extending through such sleeves.

2.. An assorting belt comprising a plurality of substantially duplicate units, each of the units comprising front and rear bars, members rigidly connecting the bars of the unit at spaced points along said bars, said bars having their outer faces disposed on an arcuate inbow, each of said faces being of an arc of more than 90 but less than 180, the bars of one unit coacting with the bars of adjacent units to provide parti-cylindrical sleeves, and pivot rods extending through such sleeves, the marginal edges of the bars of adjacent members contacting to prevent swinging movement of adjacent units in one direction beyond alignment.

3. An assorting .belt comprising a plurality of substantially duplicate units, each of the units comprising front and rear bars, members rigidly connecting the bars of the unit at spaced points along said bars, said bars having their outer faces disposed on an arcuate inbow, each of said faces being of an arc of more than 90 but less than 180, the bars of one unit coacting with the bars of adjacent units to provide parti-cylindrical sleeves, pivot rods extending through such sleeves, and annular members surrounding the bars of adjacent units for further holding said units in assembly.

4. An assorting belt comprising a plurality of substantially duplicate units, each of the units comprising front and rear bars, members rigidly connecting the bars of the unit at spaced points along said bars, said bars having their outer faces disposed on an arcuate inbow, each of said faces being of an arc of more than 90 but less than R 180, the bars of one unit coacting'with the bars of adjacent units to v provide parti-cylindrical sleeves, pivot rods extending through such sleeves, and annular members surrounding the bars of adjacent units for further holding said units in assembly, said members being fixed to one of the bars and freely surrounding the adjacent bar.

5. An assorting belt comprising a plurality of substantially duplicate units, each of the units comprising front and rear bars, members rigidly 4,, connecting the bars of the unit at spaced points along said bars, said bars having their outer faces disposed on an arcuate inbow, each of said faces being of an arc of more than 90 but less than 180, the bars of one unit coacting with the bars of adjacent units to provide parti-cylindrical sleeves, pivot rods extending through such sleeves, and annular members surrounding th bars of adjacent units for further holding said units in assembly, each of said annular members being closely adjacent to a member connecting the bars of a unit.

6. An assorting belt comprising a plurality of substantially duplicate units, each of the units comprising front and rear bars, members rigidly connecting the bars of the unit at spaced points along said bars, said bars having their outer faces disposed on an arcuate inbow, each of said faces being of an arc of more than but less than the bars of one unit coacting with the bars of adjacent units to provide parti-cylindrical sleeves, and. pivot rods extending through such sleeves, the inbow faces of the bars being in close contact from end to end with the periphery of the rod.

7. An assorting belt comprising a plurality of pivotally connected units, each of said units being of a length substantially coextensive with the width of the belt, each of said units comprising front, and rear bars, cross members connecting the bars at spaced points therealong and rigidly secured thereto, and means for hingedly connecting the bars of adjacent units.

l ROBERT BYERS. 

